Bought a 2000 Honda Insight ! ! !

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

You only paid $2K for it? If you weren't halfway across the country, I'd give you $2500 just to have it for spares.

Its too bad any hybrid up north here is $5k and higher even when fully trashed, everyone down south gets the goodies, now I will give you a deal, find me one similar and instant $250 finders fee!

I would even drive down and get it.

[MetroMPG]

If your hybrid battery is functional, you got quite the deal!

EDIT: you didn't say, but is your "IMA" dashboard light on? Check engine light?

[Tango Charlie]

Nope, no check engine light or IMA light. Hmmm. This deal IS looking sweeter. The owner's manual points out the IMA light in a diagram, but doesn't describe its function in the verbage. I had to go to the Mx manual to find this;

"The MCM (Motor Control Module) also communicates with the HDS (?) through the 16P data link connector for better serviceability. If any sensors or circuits in the IMA system are abnormal, the MCM turns on the IMA system indicator to warn the driver that there is a problem."

So, it's like a check engine light for hybrids.
The regular check engine light is also NOT lit.

The owner's manual also describes all the parameters for the Auto Idle Stop;
Engine coolant "nearly" up to operating temp.
Speed below 19 mph and brake applied.
Clutch depressed.
Accelerator not depressed.
IMA pack at least 1/3 charged.
AC is off.
Adequate vacuum reserve.

I did not drive the car today, as I had an unusual errand to run that was further than I felt comfortable taking it. I'm looking forward to driving it tomorrow on my normal commute (about 35 miles) and seeing if I can get the Auto Idle Stop to activate.
Gotta go to my friendly BMV to get plates, too.

[Tango Charlie]

Yes! The Auto Idle Stop works! I just have to remember to keep it in neutral while stopped. The engine starts right back up when it's shifted into gear, even with the clutch pressed in.

About nine or ten years ago, when I worked at a Toyota dealership, I got to test drive a Prius. I remember it using the motor at lower speeds when pulling out of the shop, and seamlessly starting and engaging the engine for accelerating into traffic. This Insight seems more...rudimentary. Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't use the motor alone, but only for assisting the engine. (yeah, I know- it's also used for charging the pack and starting the engine, but I'm talking about actually propelling the car.)
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The Battery Level Indicator only had four or five bars when I left the house this morning. By the time I got to work (about 35 miles) it was six or seven from the top. Is this normal?

Hopefully at lunch time I can get the hood latch released and see if I can wrench on those strut towers. They're awfully rattle-y.

[MetroMPG]

You are correct, sir: no "EV mode" in your Insight. (Well, not without some trickery, and modification... apparently it can be done, but it's not pretty.)

The motor was designed by Honda only to assist the gas engine. (And provide other functions: regen, charging, engine starting.)

Seeing increasing state of charge on the battery-o-meter as you drive is normal. The car will "background charge" the pack without illuminating any charging bars on the "CHRG / ASST" gauge.

What about lean burn - have you been able to tell whether that's working OK?

At cruise, you can tell when the car goes into lean burn because the instant MPG display will show a significant jump (eg. from 50-70 mpg up to 90-100+ MPG), the engine may hiccup very slightly (depending on how well things are tuned, possibly more than a hiccup), and your speed may begin to drop very slowy if you don't adjust the throttle a little bit to compensate. At cruise, the car will also occasionally drop out of lean burn (every couple of minutes, roughly) momentarily to catalyze stored NOX.

[MetroMPG]

Oh - and let me know what you find out about the front end rattle. I have heard the occasional rattle in mine. Haven't investigated beyond making sure it was not in the steering linkage/ball joints.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Tango Charlie

Yes! The Auto Idle Stop works! I just have to remember to keep it in neutral while stopped.

Oops, forgot to mention the most important part about getting the autostop to come on. It won't if you have the heater fan going. I don't often need it on around here, and have just gotten used to hitting the off button when I come to a stop.

This Insight seems more...rudimentary. Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't use the motor alone, but only for assisting the engine. (yeah, I know- it's also used for charging the pack and starting the engine, but I'm talking about actually propelling the car.)
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You're right about there being no "EV mode" in the Insight, but (IMHO) this is a far more elegant design (elegance = simplicity!) than the Prius' Rube-Goldberg mess of planetary transmissions etc. Plus it means you're not stuck with an automatic transmission, and can drive it like a real car.

[MetroMPG]

Honda's IMA is elegant... and utterly dominated in the market by Toyota's HSD approach.

[Tango Charlie]

Still not sure about the IMA battery pack. I ran an errand at lunch time, and then when it was time to go home at the end of the day, I had only three or four bars on the indicator again. Shouldn't it hold a charge better than that?

I have never had a lean burn Honda before, but I believe that it is working. It behaves much like you describe it, Darin. While cruising along at a steady state, speed will drop a little. Then when you increase pressure slightly on the accelerator, it doesn't really respond. A little more pressure and it goes "Huh? wha- oh, okay, ahem..." and then gives you too much because now you're pressing more than should be needed on the accelerator. "Hiccup" or "slight shudder" would be an appropriate description. It's a funky, funky little car. Just how I like 'em.

I left my impact wrench at home, but I tightened up the strut-top nuts with an air ratchet, followed with a breaker bar. They still rattle a little, but it is much improved. Now I can hear that three cylinder sewing machine ticking away a little better. I will probably end up having to replace the front struts, eventually.

James, thanks, I did notice that it wasn't shutting down on the way home. I figured it was because I had some form of climate control on. Egads, don't get me started on the climate controls. Yet another funky system to figure out. I've been spoiled by Pontiac's three dial system.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Tango Charlie

Still not sure about the IMA battery pack. I ran an errand at lunch time, and then when it was time to go home at the end of the day, I had only three or four bars on the indicator again. Shouldn't it hold a charge better than that?

Depends. Is the charge dropping when it's parked, or are you using enough assist while driving to drain the pack? The first might indicate a problem (I've never seen it happen myself, or heard of it), the second is just a matter of learning how to drive for it.

"Hiccup" or "slight shudder" would be an appropriate description.

You might also have the "herky-jerky" problem that's caused by a dirty/plugged EGR valve. If you scout around, you can find descriptions of the problem, and how to clean the valve. Also, you'll find that acceleration is much improved if you drop into 3rd, which you can do even at highway speeds. It's also handy to learn to shift between 3rd & 5th, as 4th is fairly useless, at least for most of my driving.